More from the budget front

The Governor’s budget is now tentatively scheduled to be released the morning of December 18. There are literally hundreds of decisions that go into the final preparation of a budget proposal, so people involved are emphasizing that it could slip a day — but not much more since state law requires the proposal to be released by December 20.

Writing in Crosscut, Pete Jackson noted the recent decision by the UW to suspend a number of search efforts and made the case that higher education investments need to be protected as lawmakers and the Governor work to close the state budget gap.

Finally, a quick update of election results. All legislative races save one have now been settled. The Snohomish County (44th District) race between Liz Loomis and Mike Hope remains too close to call, though Hope continues to maintain a roughly 100 vote lead. The recount should be finished soon and a final victor announced next week. If Hope maintains his lead, it would be a pick-up for the Republicans and the Democrats majority in the upcoming session would be 62 to 36.

@UWGOV Watching UWT grow up over the last three decades should cause Tacoma’s collective heart to beat with pride. Creating an innovation hub that bridges the business and engineering schools would be an exciting way to usher in the next 30 years. Read more: https://t.co/b57tCxdumU